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“Guys, my manager Jason Genet just told me that UFC 108 is not happening. Brock has Mono and what the UFC has told me is that I have earned the title shot but I have to wait for the title holder.”

– UFC heavyweight number one contender Shane Carwin engineers another blog post at ShaneCarwin.com confirming his title fight against Brock Lesnar will not happen at UFC 108 on Jan. 2 due to the champ’s lingering illness. The two goliaths were originally set to throw down at UFC 106 on Nov. 21; however, Lesnar was forced to withdraw from the event after spending more than three weeks battling illness, prompting the UFC to postpone the match to a pending date of early 2010. Is this a case for another interim title? Or should the fans (and Carwin) wait patiently for Lesnar to nurse himself back to health? Thoughts?

“Last week was the first week that I actually started feeling better from a strain of the swine flu. I had lost over 15 pounds (something I could not afford to loose) and had just pulled some muscles in my leg during training. As 104 approached my manager said, ‘we should be thankful we are not fighting, from your re-broken nose to the leg, this wasn’t our time’. As I prepared to go to 104, I began slowly realizing what was ahead of me; I needed to be home training and rehabbing, not traveling and missing days of necessary time with my Team. I was due to be fighting for the UFC Heavyweight title. I called Jason back and said you are right, but I can’t go to LA I need to train. I was reminded about my commitments to the fans at Kmart and the Q&A, and I knew I had to go. In LA I was reminded exactly why we do this sport. Fans were all over the place and every interaction was a positive one. While at Kmart I meet a young man who competes in the Special Olympics and he said he looked up to us fighters. I was so taken back by the fact that he put us fighters on a pedestal. Here was this young man who defied incredible odds in life to reach the Olympics and he pushes himself every day to do things you and I take for granted. I was bitching about a flu, my leg (that would heal), and taking time away from training and this young man looks up to me? He gave me his Octagon necklace and I do not think he realized what an impact he made on me. I knew right then that I was going to suck it up and drive on. Edward and the rest of Team Carwin would be the fuel to carry me through the rough times and make sure that come fight night I will be the champion … Fighting for the UFC belt is my path and honestly Brock coming down with his illness only gives me more time to be in that much better shape. It is a blessing if you want to know the truth. I would have never pulled out of the fight. I would wheel myself to the cage if it was my choice. I know this is my destiny and I don’t need everything to be perfect I just need my opportunity to show the world what I can do and who I am.”

UFC heavyweight number one contender Shane Carwin engineers a blog post at ShaneCarwin.com detailing his own troubles leading up to his recently kiboshed UFC 106 title fight against Brock Lesnar. The champ was forced to withdraw from their bout after spending more than three weeks battling illness, prompting the UFC to postpone the match to a pending date of Jan. 2 in Las Vegas. Now Carwin reveals he too was on the mend — but would have preferred they wheel him to the cage in a wheelchair instead of canceling the match. Perhaps they’ll need that wheelchair after he faces Lesnar at UFC 108 — or will he be the one doing the crippling? Opinions, Maniacs?

UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 106 heavyweight title fight on Nov. 21 against Shane Carwin after battling a lengthy illness that kept him from training for over three weeks.

From UFC President Dana White, courtesy of Yahoo Sports:

“He said he’s never been this sick in his life. He said it’s been going on for a long time and he just hasn’t been able to shake it.”

This is devastating news for a pay-per-view that is less than a month away; however, the UFC has already promoted Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz II into the main event slot and is currently assembling a co-main event to help round out the televised portion of the card.

According to Shane Carwin’s official Twitter account, his chance to dethrone Lesnar for the heavyweight strap will come at UFC 108 on Jan. 2 in Las Vegas.

“I just heard from Jason. Looks like it is postponed till Jan 2. I had h1n1 myself and I understand how devastating it can be.”

Carwin was originally paired with Cain Velasquez for UFC 104 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif., to determine a number one contender for Lesnar’s title.

It didn’t last.

With Randy Couture and Antonio Nogueira having already committed to the main event of UFC 102, there were some concerns within the organization that a suitable opponent would not be found for Lesnar by year’s end following his destruction of Frank Mir at UFC 100.

There was also the possibility of eliminating two major prospects within the division in a very short period of time had the winner of Carwin vs. Velasquez gone on to be defeated by the champ.

Velasquez subsequently obliterated Carwin’s replacement, Ben Rothwell, at the Oct. 24 event and with his victory, is likely to face the winner of Lesnar vs. Carwin at some point in 2010.

Unless, of course, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has something to say about it.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more information on this story as it develops.

Brock Lesnar has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 106 heavyweight title fight on Nov. 21 against Shane Carwin after battling a lengthy illness that kept him from training for over three weeks.

From UFC President Dana White, courtesy of Yahoo Sports:

“He said he’s never been this sick in his life. He said it’s been going on for a long time and he just hasn’t been able to shake it.”

This is devastating news for a card that is less than a month away. What the UFC has in store to replace the original bout has not yet been determined.

More on this breaking news in a bit.